I mean no harm or offense to anyone on this planet earth, which must be preserved for all of us to dwell in peacefully.

Monday, March 03, 2014

The Three Secrets to Happiness

We all know that money can’t buy happiness … but many times we act as if
we’d be happier with a bit more money. We are conditioned to want to be rich
(when we know the rich aren’t happy either); we are trained to want the latest
gadget or style that television tells us to want; we want to earn more money
because then we’ll have the good life.

But none of that will bring us happiness.No matter how
much we earn, no matter how much we have in the bank, no matter how nice our
clothing or cars or toys, none of it will make us happier. And the sad thing is that it could take us
decades of pursuing wealth and luxury items before we realize this.

So what will bring us happiness? Luckily,
it’s three things that don’t cost a thing. These three things have been proven
by research — surveys of hundreds of thousands of people about what they have,
what their lives are like, and how happy they are.

Here they are, the Three Secrets to Happiness:

1.Good relationships.We have a human
need to be close, to be intimate, with other human beings. Having good, supportive friendships, a strong
marriage or close and loving relationships with our family members will make us
much more likely to be happy.Action steps:Take time, today, to spend time with
your loved ones, to tell them what they mean to you, to listen to them, and
develop your relationship with them.

2.Positive thinking.
Positive
thinking is the best way to achieve your goals, but it turns out that it can
lead to happiness too. Optimism and self-esteem are some of the best indicators
of people who lead happy lives. Happy people feel empowered, in control of
their lives, and have a positive outlook on life. Action steps:Make positive thinking a habit. In
fact, this should be one of the first habits you develop. Get into the habit of
squashing all negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. Instead
of “I can’t” think “I can”. It may sound corny, but it does work, every time.

3.Flow.This is a
popular concept on the Internet these days — the state we enter when we are
completely focused on the work or task before us. We are so immersed in our
task that we lose track of time. Having work and leisure that gets you in this
state of flow will almost undoubtedly lead to happiness. People find greatest
enjoyment not when they’re passively mindless, but when they’re absorbed in a
mindful challenge.Action steps:Find work that you’re passionate
about. Seriously — this is an extremely important step. Find hobbies that
you’re passionate about. Turn off the TV — this is the opposite of flow — and
get outside and do something that truly engages you.